Dixie set for Irish repeat

Whistling Dixie, owned by British Horseracing Board chairman Peter Savill, will bid for a repeat win at the Northern Ireland Festival of Racing at Down Royal on November 8 and 9.

Whistling Dixie was successful last year in the £50,000 (€79,350) handicap hurdle and will go for the same race this time in an event now sponsored by Stanley Bookmakers.

The six-year-old got the better of fellow British raider Magic Combination last term, coming home three and a half lengths of the Len Lungo-trained runner-up.

Trainer Mary Reveley said: “Whistling Dixie hasn’t run over hurdles since Market Rasen in July and has been campaigning on the Flat.

“Alan Dempsey will probably have the mount at Down Royal.”